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(Facebook/ Roger Boucher)

P.A. man prepares again for icy plunge

Mar 11, 2020 | 5:02 PM

Roger Boucher has some unfinished business.

On April 4, he will attempt to complete a death defying escape at Candle Lake Provincial Park. While handcuffed and chained, Boucher will be submerged underwater below a tiny hole cut in the ice.

“I definitely want to accomplish it,” Boucher told paNOW.

The event next month marks Boucher’s second attempt at the feat in less than 14 months. The original event last year at Emma Lake was cancelled at the last minute due to environmental concerns out of Boucher’s control, specifically related to the safety of people on the ice.

“It was a little frustrating because I was ready the day before and then it got cancelled,” Boucher said.

In order to be successful, Boucher said he will have roughly two minutes to escape his chains. The temperature of the water is expected to be between two and four degrees Celsius. In addition to taking daily cold showers, Boucher said he has made one other change to his training — focusing more on moving while holding his breath.

“So I’m breathing out and holding my breath and walking around or skipping or pushups or just different things where I’ll be holding my breath and exercising at the same time,” he said.

Boucher acknowledged there will be skeptics who say it’s not safe to exercise while holding your breath, but Boucher explained he is not taking a deep breath in to increase internal pressure, rather breathing out first so there is no internal pressure.

“[It] is completely different,” he said.

The event at Candle Lake, unlike last year, is not scheduled in conjunction with any other event. The time for the event has not yet been finalized, and there is no cost to attend.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell